RAKES TREE

My grandfather, Abram Wood married Ruth Rakes.  Abram Wood's grandmother (Sparrel's wife) was also a Rakes.  Both Rakes families connect, as will be outlined below beginning our earliest known Rakes -  Charles Rakes Sr.

By Jack F Wood

 Charles Rakes was born about 1740 and died in May 1835.  His first wife was believed to be a native Indian woman named Jane (no record of their marriage) and together they had 12 children. Records show a second wife - Nancy Hubbard. Charles and his families lived in Franklin County along the Smith River, near where the counties of Franklin and Patrick  meet.  His estate showed  5 slaves and a whiskey still.  He grew tobacco and worked helping surveyor's in the area.

Charles Rakes had 11 daughters with his first wife Jane - Elizabeth, Mary, Rhoda, Dorcas, Anna, Sarah, Jane, Constant, Ms. James Light, Ms. Fleming Plasters, and Ms. John C. Hall. I will track his only son Samuel Jackson Rakes, who was born in Patrick County about 1790 and died in 1851.

Samuel Jackson Rakes Sr., born in 1790,  married Lucinda "Betty" Nowlin, daughter of John Nowlin and Mary "Polly" Thomas Rakes in December, 1820 in Franklin County. . They had 6 daughters (Nancy, Judith, Mary (Polly), Jennie, Malinda,  and Elizabeth.) and 8 sons (Charles, German, Samuel, Christopher, Richard, Alexander,  Jackson, and John). I will track his son Samuel Jr. to reach Grandmother Ruth Rakes Wood and will track Richard to reach great grandmother Nancy Rakes Wood (wife of Sparrel)

Samuel Jackson Rakes, Jr. was born in April, 1832  in Patrick County and died in April 1864 in Washington County, VA. He married Ruth Ann Thomas, daughter of Peter Thomas and Ruth Ann Thomas  in December, 1852 in Franklin County. He was a Civil War Veteran, serving in the 51st Virginia Infantry. They had 8 children, all born in Patrick County. I will track his son Millard T. Rakes to locate Ruth Rakes, my grandmother.

Millard T Rakes -b.1854        Surinda Rakes - b.??        Sarah E Rakes - b.1858        Elias Rakes - b.1860

Nathaniel Rakes -b.1854                    L.E. Rakes - b.1857        Lurinda Rakes - b.1855        Unknown - b.1861

Richard R. Rakes (Dick) was born in 1828 and married Sarah Deborah Turner,  daughter of Francis Turner.  They had 8 children:

Charles  J Rakes- b.1855                  Judith A Rakes - b.1867       Nancy A Rakes- b.6-2-1859  Columbus M Rakes - b.1864        

William E Rakes - b1866                     Israel Rakes - b.1868        Susan A, Rakes - b.1872      Samuel Rakes - b.1875      

Millard T. Rakes was born in 1854, married Martha J. Boyd Rakes and had 7 children , all born in Patrick County.

Rocksanna "Roxie Ann" Rakes -  b. August 1876  - Married Stephen W Thomas.

Iowa C Rakes - b.1877 - James Monroe DeHart (Children - Clenard, Clyde, Oscar, Vernon, Alfred and Vester Otis.

Alla Minnie Rakes - b.1880 -  - Married John H. Gusler. Daughters Marie Tulley, Gladys and Elva

Ruth L Rakes - b.2-10-1883 - Married Abram H Wood in Franklin County in 1907 and later to Gill T Carter.

Sarah Lucy Rakes -  b.1886 - Married German Cockerham.

Ballard Elder Rakes - b.1888 - died at age 1.

Alberta "Bertie"  Rakes - b.1890 - Married Elish Wood Abram's Brother (Children - Aubern, Buford, Elsie and Sunshine.

Ader Snead b.1896 - By 2nd marriage.